Skills for Change’s Pioneers for Change 2023 Call for Nominations
JOB DESCRIPTION
Position title: Senior Manager – Newcomer Services
Program: Program Operations
Location: Toronto, ON
Reports to: Vice President, Program Operations
Direct Reports: LINC Staff. CNC Staff, Settlement Staff
Contract Type: Permanent (Non-unionized)
Hours: 35 hours per week (Mondays to Fridays)
Start Date: Immediate
COMPANY:
Located on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, Skills for Change (SfC) is working towards advancing the Sustainable Development Goals for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Named Charity Village’s Best Non-Profit Employer – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and winner of the 2021 Canada Volunteer Awards for Innovation, our organization is committed to reducing poverty, improve mental health, eliminating gender-based violence, building community, eradicating systemic racism, and settling and creating sustainable communities for all immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities. Start your career with SfC and join our 40-year history of creating innovative programming to build welcoming and equitable communities.
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
With 40 years of operations, Skills for Change is a highly respected non-profit charity with a province wide reputation for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. We offer a range of accelerated programs including mentoring, employment, settlement, language training together with specialized programs for skilled trades, women, and youth. We have 5 locations across the GTA and serve 16,000 clients annually. We believe we are in the best position to provide thought leadership through evidence-based programming, impact stories and proactive policy advocacy using knowledge mobilization products.
Skills for Change believes the future of Newcomer Services requires a deep commitment to trauma- informed counselling and personalized care. We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader with experience in the social impact sector who can help us transform our work, grow our team and move from a transactional approach to a relational one with our settlement programs and services. If you are motivated by building a team, experimenting with process and new ideas, leading through change and hitting your targets, then please keep reading!
The Senior Manager leads a multi-disciplinary program team and oversee the development and execution of cross-organizational newcomer services strategy that positions SfC with innovative and responsive programs for newcomers. The Senior Manager manages Skills for Change’s programs that are directly delivering newcomer services and identifies, investigates and assesses community needs, formulates creative strategies to address them through the development of significant projects, programs. The individual will drive the development of program plans and partner closely with internal program management and external partners to ensure alignment with SfC’s corporate strategy and vision. They will maintain professional relationships with community stakeholders and funders at all levels and stay current on region-wide initiatives and developments in the sector. The role works closely with the Program Operations Leadership Team to implement cross-organizational strategies related to the newcomer experience in Canada.
The Ideal Candidate has:
- Extensive knowledge of human services, including settlement, employment, and newcomer-related programs, in densely populated urban areas.
- An entrepreneurial mindset, with a strong understanding of the foundations of change management, and demonstrated experience leading in a dynamic environment
- Proven familiarity with laws, regulations, policies, and evidence-based management practices that are pertinent to newcomer programs.
- Is vision and mission oriented, with the “grit” to see the long-term picture and bumpy road of success
- Believes in the power of social programs as a means to help people build a better life
- Flexible, responsive, and open to new ways of thinking and problem-solving and a willingness to learn
- Has a strong affinity (and even a passion) for data and how it can be used to inform operational decision marking and strategic business case development
- Understanding of case management approaches to care and program delivery is ideal
- Strong understanding of how trauma can impact a person’s quality of life and barriers to employment
- Believes that collaboration is the name of the game to get things done
- Experience working on IRCC funded settlement programs is required
- Leadership experience in social impact, non-profit, social work, settlement, newcomer services and can demonstrate how this experience relates to the role
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support the transformation to a data driven, case management and vocational training approach to Employment Services
- Build a high performing team to align with the organization’s strategic directions
- Instill a climate of success within the team by strong, supportive leadership and a positive attitude to facilitate a client centred approach to care
- Works collaboratively across the organization to develop and implement a strategic approach to Newcomer Services
- Provides leadership to direct reports
- Develop service accountability framework to implement quality improvement and provides a consistent approach to newcomer program delivery across multiple sites
- Work closely with other program managers to build best practices across teams
- Assist with the development of proposals to public and private funding organizations, based on emerging opportunities throughout each fiscal year
- Other duties assigned by the Vice President
Program Management:
- Manages all aspects of programs from staff leadership, funding relations, reporting, community relations, budgeting and business planning.
- Support and lead the development of the program annual plan in alignment with SfC and funded program and organizational priorities
- Oversee the creation and implementation of operational efficiencies and KPIs within the portfolio
- Working in partnership with internal programs, ensures efficient processes and client centred approaches to program and service delivery to capture the best possible outcome for clients and the organization
- Implement strategies that will maximize inter and cross departmental collaboration and synergies among program areas and external partners
- Oversees all aspects of contract management and complies with funder reporting requirements
- Uses change management approaches to develop a culture of innovation and transformation within the program areas
Program Development:
- In collaboration with the Program Design team, leads the development and timely delivery of proposals to public and private funding organizations, based on emerging opportunities throughout each fiscal year.
- Staying abreast of current and future programmatic directions and funding prospects of various funders
- Ensuring that SfC is aware of all appropriate current and upcoming solicitations and/or market opportunities that affect program development strategies, and ensuring that SfC remains poised to respond to appropriate opportunities that fit our mission and capabilities.
- Working collaboratively with the development and program management teams in generating new opportunities to build upon, broaden and diversify SfC’s funding base
- Establish linkages and provide senior leadership with relevant community partners to develop innovative ideas to meet current and evolving client needs
People Leadership:
- Develops a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in the practice of Newcomer Services
- Oversees program related management staff, helping the team problem solve, exercise sound judgment, and to develop sound processes for efficiency and accountability
- Builds a performance-based culture that is accountable to Skills for Change’s clients, funders, and stakeholders
- Develops annual targets for the department and direct reports, conducts regular performance reviews, coaches and mentors a team, builds consensus and buy in
- Develops change management strategies and approaches to ensure staff are ready to respond to new programming, labour market and settlement trends and the overall newcomer experience
Community Related:
- Develops an overall strategy to publicize and develop community awareness of SfC
- Builds relationships with individuals and organizations to facilitate awareness of and responses to community-based needs
- Participates in public meetings and events to develop and maintain organizational visibility
Minimum Qualifications:
- MBA, Bachelor’s Degree in non-profit management, social work, public administration, business administration, marketing or public relations, or a related field of interest
- 7-10 years’ experience working in a management or other leadership position (Graduate Degree may be substituted for one or more years of experience) related to settlement and newcomer services, or related sectors
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Track record of thinking conceptually and mastering complex subject matter quickly.
- Strong organizational skills and demonstrated capacity to develop and implement practical strategies, plans, and solutions to identified issues and problems.
- Proven ability to assimilate information gathered through research and consultations, to apply that information in creative and cross-cutting ways, and to synthesize appropriate strategies and responses.
- Superior critical thinking skills, including the capacity to identify and appropriately assess and order competing interests and priorities. First rate verbal and written communication skills.
- Track record of taking initiative in managing competing organizational and departmental priorities and to work effectively under pressure when facing extremely short deadlines.
- Exceptional research, writing, analytical and organizational skills, and the ability to convey complex concepts in a clear, concise and logical manner.
- Familiarity with research sources on the non-profit sector.
- Good judgment, discretion, tact and the ability to work easily with senior leaders within the charitable, government, and business sectors.
- Ability to partner well with colleagues both in and outside of the organization.
- Ability to work independently and to undertake supervisory responsibilities as needed
- Experience working in a unionized environment and applying collective agreements is an asset
PLEASE SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO:
Skills for Change offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities in each stage of the hiring process. If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please advise if you require accommodation. This document is available in alternate format on request. We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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